(Michigan City, IN) - An altercation between two men in front of the Meijer store in Michigan City resulted in a serious beat-down for one and criminal charges for the other.
On Sunday afternoon Michigan City police responded to a grassy area near the Meijer entrance on Franklin St. where a man was lying motionless face-down on the ground.
An ambulance was called for Ryan Perrin, who slowly came to. He was disoriented and had facial bruising and bleeding from a gash over his right eye, police said.
Perrin identified John Willis Randall as the assailant. Witnesses told police that they saw Randall punch Perrin repeatedly and choke him until he stopped moving. Perrin later said that he was panhandling at the roadway when Randall approached him asking for money and showed a gun. That’s when the fight started.
Officers knew Randall to frequent a homeless encampment in the woods near Menards, and they had been called there the day before regarding his violent behavior. Randall was soon rounded up and charged with Battery and Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Intimidation, and Strangulation. He had an initial hearing in La Porte Superior Court 1 on Tuesday.
